Whats on your turntable tonight?

REM - Reckoning -original pressing on IRS

Branford Marsalis Trio - 'The Dark Keys' - great music, fantastic recording

Off Broadway - 'On' - guilty pleasure from 1979 Chicago band, power pop at it's best.

Hi Philb7777, I'm not familiar with that last record or the band, but I am curious if it's "power pop at its best" what makes the pleasure guilty? Were they on a national label or is it a record one is unlikely to stumble across outside of Chicagoland?

Quincy Jones - "The Slender Thread" Orig. M.P. Sndtrk. [Mercury LP '65]
Dale Hawkins - S/T [Chess comp. LP '84, rec. late 50's]
Nilsson - "Aerial Ballet" [RCA Victor LP '68]
The Beau Brummels - S/T [WB LP '75]

Off Broadway, AKA Off Broadway USA was a band that originated in the late 70's in Chicago. They released two albums, their debut 'On' and their sophomore effort, 'Quick Turns.'. Both were released on ATCO / Atlantic. Although they made some minor interest nationally, they were big in their native Chicago. They had 3-4 singles, all making Billboard top 100, but not cracking the top 40.

They were part power pop and part new wave. Lots of hooks, but sometimes corny lyrics. Surprisingly, both records were pretty well recorded. Rare and hard to find, if you come across either LP in the used bins, it will be worth the $5 to take a chance!

Yeah, not much 70's "power pop" (never have dug that term) featured memorable lyrics, Big Star and Cheap Trick excepted (bands who really transcended the label anyway). But a lot of the best of it did tend to come out of the Midwest. I'll keep a lookout...

1. loudon wainwright iii, album ii--alternatively sad and hysterically funny; best one guy with a guitar folkie album by someone not named dylan. as far as i know, never released on cd. "motel blues" (later covered by big star) is on this record.
2. lyres lyres--hadn't heard this in 20 years or so and was surprised at how great it is--tough, hooky garage rockers and really pretty ballads. "she pays the rent" is a classic.
3. wipers, over the edge---sorta hardcore punk rock for grownups. i bet nirvana wore out 100 copies of this record.